Ability of the Well-Being Index to identify pharmacists in distress

BackgroundWell-being and distress are important issues in the pharmacist workforce; yet, there is limited evidence evaluating the validity of practical screening tools among pharmacists.ObjectivesTo evaluate the ability of the Well-Being Index (WBI) to (1) identify the well-being and dimensions of distress in pharmacists, and (2) stratify pharmacists’ likelihood of adverse professional consequences.MethodsIn July 2019, a national sample of pharmacists completed the Web-based version of the 9-item WBI (score range −2 to 9) and standardized instruments to assess quality of life (QOL), fatigue, burnout, concern for a recent major medication error, and intent to leave the current job. The Fisher exact test or chi-square test was used, as appropriate, to obtain the univariate odds ratio, posttest probabilities, and likelihood ratios associated with the WBI score for each outcome.ResultsA total of 2231 pharmacists completed the survey. The most common practice settings were community pharmacies—chain (36.7%) and independent (10.7%)—followed by hospitals or health systems (20.1%) and academia (11.7%). The mean overall WBI score was 3.3 ± 2.73 (mean ± SD). Low QOL, extreme fatigue, and burnout symptoms were present in 34.8%, 35.3%, and 59.1%, respectively, of the responders. As the WBI score increased, the odds for low QOL, fatigue, burnout, concern for a recent major medication error, and intent to leave the current position increased incrementally. The WBI score also stratified the odds of high QOL. Assuming a pretest burnout probability of 59.1% (prevalence of the overall sample), the WBI lowered the posttest probability to 2% or raised it to 98% with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.87.ConclusionThe WBI may serve as a useful tool to gauge well-being and to identify pharmacists who may be experiencing important dimensions of distress and have increased risk for adverse professional consequences.     

The use of think-aloud protocols to identify a decision-making process of community pharmacists aimed at improving CMS Star Ratings scores

Background

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created the Star Rating system based on multiple measures that indicate the overall quality of health plans. Community pharmacists can impact certain Star Ratings measure scores through medication adherence and patient safety interventions.

A system approach to dispensing errors: a national study on perceptions of the Finnish community pharmacists

Objective To examine pharmacists’ perceptions and opinions on the potential causes of dispensing errors and the ways to prevent them in community pharmacies, and to assess whether pharmacists’ perceptions reflect the system approach. Method A survey instrument was mailed to privately owned Finnish community pharmacies (n = 599) in March 2005. The survey included two open-ended questions to assess the pharmacists’ perceptions on potential causes and prevention of dispensing errors. Furthermore, the questionnaire contained 20 structured, Likert-type, statements of dispensing errors and their management. The survey was addressed to the owner or operational manager of the pharmacy. The emphasis in the analysis of the study was on the open-ended questions which were analysed using the content analysis method. All quantitative data was analysed using the SPSS for Windows. Main outcome measure: The community pharmacists’ perceptions and opinions on the potential causes and preventive factors of dispensing errors. Results A total of 340 responses were entered in the study (response rate 57%). The content analysis revealed that factors related to organization and those related to individual professionals were the most frequently mentioned as the potential causes of dispensing errors (37% and 30% of all potential causes given, respectively; number of respondents n = 326; total number of given items n = 967). The organizational factors (46% of all the preventive factors given), and factors related to individual professionals (41%) were also the most frequently considered as preventive (number of respondents n = 323; total number of given items n = 916). The analysis of the structured statements revealed that discussion about the dispensing errors with pharmacy staff and changes in working routines based on the dispensing error incidents were considered to be the most important factors in error prevention. A heavy workload and the similarity of drug packages were considered as the most important potential causes of the dispensing errors in the structured statements. Conclusion Finnish community pharmacists still, to some extent, have the person-centred approach to medication safety although signs of the system approach were also evident. Attitudinal changes still have to take place, as well as changes to the practice environment, in order to get the system approach fully implemented in the Finnish community pharmacies.     

Using the Internet to develop an international learning community of pharmacists

Until recent years, the level of interaction across a profession, necessary to provide for an optimum learning environment which supports professional development, has only been significantly possible in face-to-face interaction and has therefore been place and time dependent. With the explosive development of the Internet, communication barriers are breaking down and international interaction, networking and collaboration is becoming increasingly possible. This short report describes the manner in which an Internet-based postgraduate study programme, entitled Enhancing Pharmacy Practice has made use of these communication opportunities to develop an international learning community of pharmacists. Programme evaluation data collected from surveys completed online by participants and content analysis of online discussion groups during the first four modules of the programme, demonstrates that there is a high level of interaction amongst participants. It also suggests that this interaction has contributed to the learning experience and professional growth of the participants and impacted positively upon their practice.     

A policy of free access to asthma medicines in Brazil: an opportunity for pharmacists to optimize asthma treatment

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that is characterized by recurrent symptoms associated with airflow limitation and by bronchial hyper-responsiveness. Free asthma treatment has been guaranteed in Brazil since 2003, notably after the Brazilian government decided to support drugs for the most serious forms of the disease. The asthma treatment access policy in Brazil offers a new opportunity for pharmacists to work closely with patients, and for caregivers and health care teams to promote educational activities and patient counselling about asthma. Pharmacists have an important role in the management of drug therapy within the health care team. Pharmacists should be prepared to engage with the latest concept of health care delivery proposed for Brazilian Unified Health System. These are centred on forming health care networks and strengthening multidisciplinary teams to integrate all professionals who are in charge of patient care.     

The voices of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico

BackgroundCommunity pharmacists have provided health care services uninterruptedly throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, their public health role is often overlooked.ObjectivesThe purpose of this article is to discuss the roles and the coping mechanisms of community pharmacists working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico.MethodsA cross-sectional study, using an electronic survey, was conducted to assess the community pharmacists’ response during the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico. Two open-ended questions explored community pharmacists’ opinions about the pharmacist’s role and coping mechanisms during the pandemic. The responses were analyzed following an inductive thematic analysis. Two major themes emerged from their responses: professional and personal experiences.ResultsOf the 302 participants who completed the survey, 77% of them answered 1 or both open-ended questions. The answers were diverse, and the respondents went beyond the specific topics asked. In professional experiences, important roles as educators and providing continuity of care and emotional support to their patients were highlighted. They also expressed concerns and frustrations on the profession’s shortcomings, feeling overworked yet with a lack of recognition. In personal experiences, most of the respondents were concerned about the impact of having to juggle work and home life. They also reported mental health concerns, expressing feeling stressed, overworked, and worried about the constant risk of exposure and fear of exposing their loved ones.ConclusionCommunity pharmacists in Puerto Rico ensured the continuation of care, provided education, and managed anxious and stressed patients. Most relied on family members to cope with the extra burden that the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of recognition created resentfulness among participants. It is essential to listen to our community pharmacists’ voices to support and respond to their needs and learn from their experiences as frontline health care workers.     

Assessing the use of an infographic on pre-exposure prophylaxis for Wisconsin community pharmacists

BackgroundPre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatments reduce the risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, despite proven effectiveness, PrEP use remains low among populations at risk of contracting HIV. Successful PrEP uptake includes developing partnerships with health care providers to implement PrEP-related tools and interventions. Pharmacists are uniquely positioned health professionals who can provide PrEP services in the community, such as pharmacy-led PrEP clinics, to increase uptake, adherence, and retention. Unfortunately, prior evidence shows that not all pharmacists have enough knowledge about PrEP to provide effective care, resulting in low confidence and discomfort in PrEP-related patient consultations.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess Wisconsin community pharmacists’ intentions of utilizing an infographic on PrEP for HIV prevention to educate themselves on PrEP and in consultations with patients starting PrEP.MethodsAn adaptative survey, using the Theory of Planned Behavior, was conducted to assess pharmacists’ intentions by measuring their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The Fisher exact tests were performed to examine associations between the 3 theoretical constructs against intentions.ResultsPharmacists reported high intentions of utilizing the infographic to educate themselves (62%) and counsel patients starting PrEP (54%). Their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls were all significantly associated with their intentions. However, their intentions were reported lower than their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, suggesting that additional factors may influence intentions that were not measured in this study.ConclusionThe results from this study demonstrate Wisconsin community pharmacists’ intentions of using an infographic on PrEP for HIV prevention in practice while measuring their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Future research is warranted to explore adapting and using the infographic to better understand its influence in improving pharmacy care among HIV-negative individuals.     

Perceptions of community pharmacists to implementing technologies in the workplace: an exploratory study

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy - Background The proliferation of different technologies in pharmacies has begun to change the role and work of pharmacists; however, while workplace...     

Patient responses to an integrated service,initiated by community pharmacists,for the prevention of osteoporosis

Objective This study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate an integrated service provided by pharmacists to consumers based on the results of a risk‐assessment survey carried out by the pharmacist and testing of bone mineral density (BMD) by a radiographer. It also investigated whether measurement of BMD in the pharmacy increased the effectiveness of the service and pharmacist referral in terms of adherence to advice and uptake of referral compared with the same service offered without BMD testing. Setting Community pharmacists in urban and rural settings in New South Wales, Australia, delivered the service. Method The adherence to advice or referral given by 12 community pharmacists during 2003 to 217 participants about the prevention of osteoporosis following screening with either a BMD test plus risk‐assessment questionnaire or a risk‐assessment questionnaire only was compared. Key findings No significant between‐group differences in adherence to advice or referral were found. However, participants valued the BMD service significantly more highly than the non‐BMD service as measured by satisfaction scores. Conclusions Consumers were interested in receiving information about osteoporosis and their own risk of it and even greater interest in BMD testing in the pharmacy. There was no difference in uptake of referral or advice following either questionnaire only or questionnaire plus BMD testing. Low uptake of referral and advice overall by those deemed to be at high risk is of concern. Far greater education and encouragement for consumers to follow through is required.     

The guinea pig as an animal model for asthma

Experimental guinea pig asthma is a reliable and clinically relevant facsimile of human disease. The guinea pig is the preferred choice for use as a model of allergic bronchial asthma in the evaluation of anti-asthmatic drugs, since the airway anatomy and the response to inflammatory mediators is similar to humans. Further, the great strength of this model is the direct anaphylactic bronchoconstriction upon antigen challenge. Under certain conditions a late asthmatic response can be measured and airway hyperresponsiveness is observed in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the inflammatory response is comparable with the human situation. More recent studies describe a chronic model for asthma in which airway remodeling is induced as can be observed in the asthmatic patients. The focus here is to demonstrate that guinea pig asthma models are useful for testing novel therapeutics.     

Use of the job demands-resource model to understand community pharmacists’ burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundCommunity pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst playing a vital role in medication supply and patient education, exposure to the pandemic demands and prolonged stressors increase their risk of burnout.ObjectivesUsing the Job Demands-Resources model, this study aims to understand the factors that led to community pharmacists’ burnout and to identify their coping strategies and perceived recommendations on interventions to mitigate burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA qualitative phenomenological approach was used with focus groups and interviews of community pharmacists in Qatar who were recruited using purposeful, convenience, and snowballing sampling methods. Interviews were conducted between February and April 2021, were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using thematic analysis methodology, manual inductive and deductive (based on the model) codes from the interviews were used for synthesis of themes. 11 themes emerged from six focus groups, six dyadic interviews and mini focus groups, and four individual interviews with community pharmacists.ResultsThe contributing factors to community pharmacists’ burnout have been identified as practical job demands, and emotional demands including fear of infection. On the other hand, government and workplace-specific resources, personal characteristics such as resiliency and optimism, as well as the implementation of coping strategies, have reduced their stress and burnout.ConclusionsThe use of the Job Demands-Resources model was appropriate to identify the contributing factors to community pharmacists’ burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on these factors, individual, organizational, and national strategies can be implemented to mitigate burnout in community pharmacists during the pandemic and future emergencies.     

Color measurement of a solid active pharmaceutical ingredient as an aid to identifying key process parameters

The color of a powdered active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in an investigational drug was found to be the result of a number of process parameters. Color measurements of the solid material were derived from reflectance data obtained from a sphere spectrophotometer. These data provided a convenient and non-destructive way to track the effects of variations to the process parameters on the resulting material. Visual evaluation could not provide an objective, quantitative assessment of the material. Color of solution (COS) measurements did not provide adequate sensitivity to distinguish some of the samples from each other, even when visual differences were apparent.     

The use of nicotine chewing gum as an aid to stopping smoking

Two hundred and ten subjects entered a trial to test the use of a chewing gum containing nicotine as an aid to stopping smoking. They were divided into three groups: nicotine chewing gum, placebo chewing gum, and control. The trial was double blind between the two chewing gum groups. After 1 month the percentage of confirmed non-smokers in the nicotine gum group was 34%, in placebo chewing gum group 37% and the control group 24%. By 6 months most of the non-smokers had relapsed, but the nicotine gum group (23%) was more successful than the placebo (5% or the control group (14%).